A Big Deal

Cold and lonely nights on the street. Another abusive confrontation. Bare cupboards and hungry children. From the outside, these situations may look bleak, depressing, and painful. People in the middle of these situations, however, can become numb and desensitized to their plight. To the homeless, it is just another night on the street. To the hungry, missed meals become regular fare. Abusive relationships become the norm. What may be shocking and obvious to others may be no big deal to the one in the middle of it. It becomes normal existence. The status quo, even though tragic, can easily become familiar. The abnormal seems normal.
In the same way sin can become normal to us. We can become used to it. Others may be shocked at the obvious wrong and see the sin and shame, but to the one in the midst of it, it may seem like no big deal. It becomes part of normal existence. No big deal? Sin is a big deal. A REAL BIG deal.
Those who become numb to it accept it as a familiar friend, but they do not realize the tragedy of their situation. The Bible says that sin is a killer (Romans 6:23). The death that comes from sin is not immediately apparent. We are told that sin kills but when we sin we do not suddenly drop dead. We live to sin another day. We begin to think that perhaps sin is not so bad. Day after day, sin upon sin, we become numb. Sin becomes the new normal. Its no big deal (1 Kings 16:31). But the truth is, we are dead (Romans 5:12).
Not until we realize our condition are we able to begin to address it. That is why God wants to wake us up to our condition (Romans 13:11; Ephesians 5:14). God’s word diagnoses us. It forces us to see ourselves as we really are (James 1:22-25). The Holy Spirit brings guilt to shake us out of our stupor (2 Corinthians 7:10-13; Hebrews 3:7-8). To make us uncomfortable with sin. We need to hear the alarms go off. WARNING! SIN IS A KILLER! It is killing you already. hey! You!, HEY YOU! YOU ARE DEAD!!!!
We have to know how bad it is before we wake up enough to ask “what must I do to be saved (cf. Acts 2:37, 16:30)?” Then, and only then are we ready to hear the good news. “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved (Acts 16:31).” We are not ready to hear the good news until we wake up to the reality of the bad news. When we wake up to how big a deal sin is (death is a big deal), we can finally see how big a deal Jesus is (sin washer, life giver). We were dead men walking and didn't even know it. Sin zombies (Ephesians 2:1-2). But God poured out His grace and mercy in Jesus Christ and made us alive (Ephesians 2:4-5). If you are still one of the zombies, it means nothing. It is no big deal. But, if you are one of those who have been made alive you understand what all the fuss is about. Yes, sin is a big deal. But, Jesus is a bigger deal. The biggest deal ever.

Truth, Faith, and Reason

Reality rests on Truth. What is not true is a deception. Belief in God is faith in what is real. To question God is to cast doubt on truth. We tend to believe what we can see. Faith requires that we believe in what we do not see (Heb. 11:1). Unlike the scientific method, faith does not require tangible proof. That does not, however, mean that belief in God has no reasonable demonstration of proof. It is not unreasonable to take God's demonstrated trustworthiness through his Word as reason to believe. Has God ever lied? Has His Word ever failed?

Prophecy fulfilled, faith demonstrated and rewarded, miracles performed; All these point to the unseen God. The Bible in history is is a demonstration of the reality of God. The truth of who He is. When His word speaks history before it occurs (Lam. 3:37), the historical fact becomes testimony to the veracity and reality of God. God also vindicated the faith of individuals as he worked in their lives. Noah undertook a great building project, and God vindicated him. Abraham believed God and God vindicated his faith by fulfilling the promise of a son. The faith of Moses brought judgement upon Egypt, and lead the Hebrews out of oppression through parted waters. Miracles themselves are reasonable proofs of the  reality of God. An exception in consistent laws were used of God to display his almighty power, imminent involvement, and planning. They were testimony to the reality of God (Neh 9:17; John. 10:25; John 14:11; Heb. 2:4).

What is truth? What is real? Faith says God is real, not simply by the force of belief, as if wishing makes it so, but on the basis of reasonable evidence (Acts 26:25; 1 Peter 3:15). God has given us reason to believe in Him. If we still reject his testimony we judge him as untrue. We sit in judgement of His Word. It is this Word that will judge us in the end (John 12:48). When the truthfulness of God is found trustworthy, faith has found a resting place.  We can trust the Word of God who cannot lie (Titus 1:2).